UFC Abu Dhabi Face-Offs | Ankalaev vs Guskov and Full Fight Card
UFC Abu Dhabi fighters meet for the final face-offs
The fighters competing at UFC Abu Dhabi come together on stage for the final weigh-ins and face-offs before a 13-fight card at Etihad Arena. With the talking nearly finished, the last staredowns offer an early look at the tension, confidence and size differences behind several important UFC matchups.
The July 25 event is headlined by former light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev against knockout threat Bogdan Guskov. Their late-booked main event, Ankalaev vs Guskov, puts an established contender against one of the division’s most dangerous finishers.
Guskov accepted the biggest opportunity of his UFC career and brings genuine one-punch danger to the Etihad Arena. Ankalaev, meanwhile, is trying to move straight back toward the light heavyweight championship. The face-off is calm, but there is plenty behind it: Guskov has almost nothing to lose, while Ankalaev cannot afford to surrender his place near the top of the division.
Temirov, Dulatov and Zaynukov lead a prospect-heavy main card
The main card includes several fighters who could become much bigger names before the end of 2026. Ramazan Temirov meets former UFC title challenger Steve Erceg in Temirov vs Erceg, a flyweight fight with obvious ranking implications.
Temirov enters with power, speed and a long winning streak, but Erceg has already competed at championship level. It is the kind of booking that quickly shows whether an exciting finisher is ready for the established end of the UFC flyweight division.
Islam Dulatov also returns in Abu Dhabi for his second Octagon appearance. The German-based welterweight faces Wellington Turman in Dulatov vs Turman after building his reputation through sharp counterstriking and a perfect finishing record across his victories.
Dulatov produced one of the more memorable knockouts from his Dana White’s Contender Series season before stopping Adam Fugitt in his UFC debut. More of his rise can be seen in the top knockouts in Dana White’s Contender Series history.
Another lightweight prospect to watch is Magomed Zaynukov, who meets former FEN champion Damian Rzepecki. The Rzepecki vs Zaynukov face-off brings together two fighters making their way into the UFC through very different European MMA routes.
Zaynukov earned his contract through Dana White’s Contender Series, while Rzepecki arrives after becoming a champion on the Polish scene. Fans unfamiliar with the matchup can watch Damian Rzepecki’s road from FEN champion to UFC debut and revisit Zaynukov’s contract-winning appearance in the DWCS Episode 9 highlights.
Axel Sola faces an experienced lightweight test
Axel Sola steps into another serious lightweight assignment against Ismael Bonfim. Sola vs Bonfim matches the movement and patient approach of the French prospect against a more experienced Brazilian known for powerful boxing and aggressive combinations.
Sola has steadily built momentum, but this is a fight where simply being competitive may not be enough. A convincing performance over Bonfim would push him much further into the crowded UFC lightweight conversation. Their face-off reflects the matchup well: little drama, just two technically confident fighters who expect the contest to be decided at a high level.
UFC Abu Dhabi prelims carry plenty of finishing danger
The preliminary card is not short on fighters trying to make an immediate impression. Undefeated lightweight Nurullo Aliev faces Mike Davis in Aliev vs Davis. Aliev’s wrestling and control meet a powerful, athletic opponent who has been waiting nearly a year to return.
At light heavyweight, Magomed Tuchalov takes on Brendson Ribeiro in Tuchalov vs Ribeiro. Neither man is likely to benefit from an unnecessarily slow fight, making this one of the strongest knockout candidates on the undercard.
Bantamweight prospect Abdul Hussein meets veteran Cody Gibson in Hussein vs Gibson. Hussein brings an unbeaten record into his UFC debut, while Gibson has the experience to test whether the newcomer is ready for the pace and pressure of the Octagon.
From the opening prelim to Ankalaev and Guskov’s final walk, UFC Abu Dhabi is built around proven finishers and prospects being pushed into meaningful tests. The face-offs are the final quiet moment before Etihad Arena finds out which of them are ready to take the next step.
